By India Blooms New Service Oct 08, 2023
Gangtok: ITBP personnel on Friday successfully conducted a rescue operation, saving 68 people who were stranded in northern Sikkim due to the recent flash floods in Lhonak Lake.
A video captured the Himveers of the ITBP rescue team in action, evacuating those who had been marooned in the area for more than three days.
The calamity occurred in the early hours of Wednesday.
The rushing waters also damaged a dam at Chungthang, the states largest hydropower project, exacerbating the flooding downstream.
The Himveers of the ITBP rescue team launched a massive rescue operation and evacuated all the 68 persons safely, ITBP said in a tweet.
In the recent flash flood, 68 persons were stranded at the height of 16000 feet, totally cut off for the last 3 days in North Sikkim. #Himveers of ITBP rescue team, launched a massive rescue operation and evacuated all the 68 persons safely. #Himveers#ITBP pic.twitter.com/sKxvRpIsWa
ITBP (@ITBP_official) October 6, 2023
Those rescued were stranded at the height of 16000 feet in the region.
In the aftermath of the devastating flash flood in Sikkim, the death toll has risen to 56 as of Saturday.
Of these, 26 bodies were discovered within Sikkim, while the remaining 30 were found in the basin of the Teesta River in West Bengal.
At least 10 civilians were killed in a cloudburst over in north Sikkim, while 82 people, including 22 Army personnel, are currently missing, according to media reports.